Comedian Chris O’Dowd has voiced support for Graham Linehan, the Irish TV writer who claims to have become the “most hated man on the internet” following repeated accusations of bigotry and transphobia.
O’Dowd starred in the Channel 4 sitcom The IT Crowd, which Linehan created, between 2006 and 2013. Linehan is also known for creating the Irish priest sitcom Father Ted and is listed as one of the co-creators of BBC sitcom Motherland.
Over the past several years, Linehan has become known for sharing anti-transgender rhetoric online, and has attracted heavy criticism from LGBT+ groups for characterising the trans rights movements as “paedophilic”, branding individual critics “groomers”. Linehan has claimed that his views on trans rights have led to a blacklisting from the entertainment industry, as well as the dissolution of his marriage.
Speaking to The Times in a new interview, O’Dowd described Linehan as “the best comedy writer” he had worked with, and claimed that Linehan’s views were “not peripheral”.
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“I haven’t seen him in a few years, I text him every now and again,” O’Dowd remarked. “I have people come up to me and tell me that I’ve changed their life because of this show that I was really a small part in. And so I always get in touch with him and let him know, ‘I just want you to know how much f***ing love I get for your work.’ I wish he was writing more, and I wish he was in the industry more. I think he’s the best comedy writer I’ve worked with.
“I don’t necessarily want to get into his views,” he continued, “but I do think that it’s a shame that more people don’t go and talk to him about them because – whether I agree with them or not – they’re not peripheral. I know the press is trying to make loads of money out of all of the division, but don’t actually want to go and talk to him about it and I think that’s a shame.”
Last year, Linehan announced that he was moving to the US to film a new sitcom starring Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo actor Rob Schneider. Former GB News presenter Andrew Doyle is also said to be involved in the project.
Linehan is also currently involved in a legal battle after being sued by former Holby City actor David Paisley for defamation, over statements made on his substack and social media pages.
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